A recent appointment by the Milwaukee mayor to the city’s Office of Community Wellness and Safety drew outrage and controversy after it was revealed that the person chosen to head the office is a convicted murderer. 

On Monday, Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson announced his appointment of Adam Procell to head up the office, passing over three other finalists for the job. 

Procell’s appointment has already angered some residents of Milwaukee and Wisconsin as he spent over 20 years in prison for killing a rival gang member. Procell was released 7 years ago and started a consulting firm focused on helping other ex-criminals re-enter society.

While Mayor Johnson defended the appointment and asked Milwaukee residents to trust in his decision making, others questioned why a convicted murderer was being appointed to a position focused on violence prevention. (RELATED: Milwaukee Police Slayer Had History of Violence)

The decision comes as a surprise to some Milwaukee residents as Procell was not one of the three finalists announced months earlier, and other finalists received a positive reception at town halls and public events. 

Procell was a part of the Spanish Cobras, a gang with a heavy presence in Chicago that is still active and known for committing gruesome acts of violence. Earlier this year, the gang was implicated in a double homicide in Chicago that is still being investigated.

Procell defended his appointment and asked for a clean slate at a Monday press conference announcing his ascension to the office. (RELATED: Wisconsin Woman Found Guilty in UK Murder Driven by Family Feud)

“I want you to think of coming up here and telling the entire city the worst moment you were as a human being,” Procell said in his introductory remarks. “I promise you this is not comfortable, but I lead with that because I can’t ask Milwaukee to lean into uncomfortably if I don’t take that first step.”